***NEWS RELEASE***

TYLER - During their regular meeting held on Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Tyler City Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corp. (BWR) for the design of Fire Station 5 and the design of a section of road directly to the south of the property. The relocation of Fire Station 5 is part of the City of Tyler’s plan to enhance emergency response times.

On Sept. 9, 2009, the City Council authorized the purchase of a parcel of land on Bennett Street from the Tyler Economic Development Council. The property will be used by the City of Tyler to relocate Fire Station 5 from its current location at the corner of Frankston Highway and Walton Road. The relocation of Fire Station 5 will enhance the Tyler Fire Department’s access to surrounding areas and decrease response times.

“Moving Station 5 will provide better spacing and coverage for a larger portion of west Tyler,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “The citizens of Tyler will benefit from the new station placement by having a more uniform response times throughout the city.”

In 2002, the City of Tyler hired a consultant to determine Fire Department staffing needs and station placement within Tyler. The findings indicated that the City of Tyler Fire Department should have 10 fire stations, 10 fire companies (who perform basic firefighting functions), and two ladder truck companies (who perform a variety of services including search and rescue and aerial water delivery operations).

In response to these recommendations, a progressive plan was created for the Tyler Fire Department in 2003. The plan became the blueprint for the Fire Department’s efforts to grow to meet the current and expanding needs of Tyler.

“Providing superior service to the citizens of Tyler is a priority for the City of Tyler,” said Mayor Pro Tem Donald Sanders. “The relocation of Fire Station 5 will help increase the safety of our City.”

“Enhancing the spacing of our station will not only help reduce the response time of our firefighters, it will also be an important step toward lowering the Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating for the City of Tyler,” said Fire Chief Neal Franklin.

The proposed relocation of Fire Station 5 is the next step in the Fire Department’s progressive plan. The Tyler Fire Department opened Station 10, located at 2502 Old Omen Road, in October 2008 and completed the relocation of Fire Station 7, located at 1116 Troup Highway, in December 2008.